What New Heights Youth does

New Heights Youth, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in January 2005 and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, that delivers sports-based youth development programming to underserved New York City youth. The organization uses basketball as an engagement mechanism, layering academic support, college preparation, mentorship, and career exploration on top of athletic development. Its core product is the integrated "College Bound" program, complemented by The Bridge (competitive travel teams), The Foundation (developmental league with open runs), the New Heights Basketball Camp (summer camp), and Summer Academy (combining sports with STEM enrichment).

Programming is delivered primarily at the Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where New Heights serves as the basketball operator under a long-term partnership with BFC Partners and NYCEDC. The organization also runs facility rentals and community memberships at sliding-scale pricing ($8-$30/month). Technology is not a core capability; the offering is people- and facility-intensive rather than software-driven. Partnerships with NewYork-Presbyterian (career shadowing), Cartier (internships), Adidas (3SSB circuit), the Brooklyn Nets (clinics), and the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation extend programmatic reach.

The revenue model is a diversified nonprofit mix: individual donations (one-time, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual), corporate sponsorships (multi-tier gala sponsors), foundation grants (MacKenzie Scott $1M in 2024, RWJF, NBA Foundation, NewYork-Presbyterian, Stavros Niarchos, Ponce De Leon), planned giving via the New Heights Legacy Society, program fees, facility rentals, and special event proceeds (GameChangers Ball, MADNESS tournament, Team Challenge Shoot-A-Thon). The organization holds a Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating and a GuideStar/Candid Transparency Seal, and is led by Executive Director Ted Smith with a team of 11-50 staff.

Name

New Heights Youth

Legal name

New Heights Youth, Inc.

Website

https://newheightsnyc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New Heights Youth is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses basketball to engage underserved NYC youth, providing academic support, college preparation, mentorship, and career exploration from middle school through college.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Basketball training services
• College preparation support
• Academic mentorship programs
• Community youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals at various amounts ($5-$50 suggested amounts, plus custom amounts) with multiple billing options including one-time, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual donations. Donations can be made online, by phone, or by mail.
2. Corporate Sponsorships & Partnerships: Corporate partners sponsor various programs and events. Major sponsors at the 20th Anniversary Gala included JDS Sports/Play With Purpose (GameChanger Sponsor), Ann and Andrew Tisch, Compass Rose Asset Management, and numerous other organizations across Champion, Leader, Benefactor, and Supporter tiers.
3. Planned Giving & Estate Donations: The organization offers legacy giving options including bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, retirement plan/insurance beneficiary designations, real estate donations, and charitable lead trusts. The New Heights Legacy Society recognizes planned gift donors.
4. Foundation Grants: New Heights receives grants from foundations including the MacKenzie Scott Yield Giving ($1 million in 2024), Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Sports Award (2022), NBA Foundation grants, and Stavros Niarchos Foundation support.
5. Program Fees & Facility Rentals: The organization offers basketball programs including Summer Academy and facility rentals at their Brooklyn location. The Major Owens Center membership fees ($8 youth, $10 discounted, $30 standard) provide community access.
6. Special Events Revenue: Annual gala events including the 20th Anniversary GameChangers Ball generate fundraising revenue through ticket sales, silent auctions, and corporate sponsorships. The MADNESS tournament and Team Challenge Shoot-A-Thon are additional event-based fundraising activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

New Heights Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers sports-based youth development in New York City, using basketball as an engagement vehicle for underserved middle and high school students. The organization provides basketball skill development, academic tutoring, college preparation, career exploration, and mentorship through structured programs at its Brooklyn facility. It also operates the Major Owens Center facility, offering community access to basketball courts and wellness programming.

Product overview

New Heights Youth is a non-profit sports-based youth development organization that operates as a single integrated program rather than a platform. Its core offering is the College Bound program, which combines basketball development with academic support, mentorship, and college preparation. The organization runs multiple complementary programs including The Bridge (competitive travel teams), The Foundation (development league with open runs), New Heights Basketball Camp (summer camp), and Summer Academy (combining sports with STEM). The portfolio also includes facility rentals at their Brooklyn location, and signature fundraising events including the annual Team Challenge Shoot-a-Thon, MADNESS tournament, and GameChangers Ball gala. All programs use basketball as a 'hook' to engage underserved youth in educational and developmental opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Bridge A competitive basketball travel team program for student-athletes that combines basketball development and tournament competition with academic support and college preparatory services. Targeted at underserved NYC youth seeking to use basketball as a pathway to higher education.
• The Foundation A basketball development league offering competitive play and skill development for youth athletes, with Open Run sessions for community pickup games. Designed to provide foundational basketball training and positive youth engagement.
• New Heights Basketball Camp (NHBC) An annual summer basketball camp providing intensive training, skill development, and mentorship for young athletes. Aimed at NYC youth seeking summer basketball instruction and personal development.
• Summer Academy 2026 A summer day camp program combining basketball and sports activities with STEM subjects and academic enrichment. Targeted at middle school youth for combined athletic and educational development during summer months.
• Facility + Rentals State-of-the-art Brooklyn facility offering multiple full-size basketball courts and classrooms available for community rentals and programming. Available to community groups, sports teams, and organizations.
• The Foundation: Open Runs Open community basketball run sessions offered at the Major Owens Center as part of The Foundation programming. Provides accessible pickup basketball opportunities for neighborhood youth and community members.
• College Bound Program A comprehensive youth development program combining basketball with academic support, college preparation, career guidance, internship placement, alumni mentorship, and SAT preparation. Targeted at student-athletes pursuing higher education and career pathways.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% college acceptance rate for program graduates (implied by 'College Bound' branding and alumni success stories)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• AdidascoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 January 2025New Heights boys' basketball program became officially sponsored by Adidas in January 2025. The partnership positions New Heights as part of the prestigious 3SSB (3-Stripes Select Basketball) Circuit, enabling teams to play against top programs nationwide. Adidas provides equipment, apparel, and brand association.
• Brooklyn Nets / Brooklyn Nets Basketball AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 November 2021James Harden and Brooklyn Nets hosted youth basketball clinic at New Heights facility. Partnership centered on grassroots basketball development. New Heights teams participate in Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy presented by Adidas events and receive tickets to games at Barclays Center.
• BFC Partners / NYCEDC / Major Owens CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2021Long-term facility partnership providing permanent home at Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center. New Heights serves as basketball operator, providing free and low-cost basketball programming. 99-year affordable office lease. $256 million public-private partnership development.
• NewYork-Presbyterian HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partnership providing career exploration opportunities for student-athletes. Connects students with medical professionals through shadowing and hospital visits, supporting career development in healthcare fields.
• CartierminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxury brand partnership providing internship opportunities for New Heights alumni through the College Bound program's Career Assist alumni network. Supports professional development and career exploration.
• Howard UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorically Black university where multiple New Heights alumni have played basketball, including Bryce Harris who led Howard to its first MEAC championships and NCAA March Madness victory. Relationship provides pathway and ongoing engagement with program alumni.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• KIPP NYC: Large NYC charter school network serving underserved K-12 students with college-prep focus. Comparable target population (low-income NYC youth) and educational mission, but uses K-12 schooling as the engagement vehicle rather than sports.

Direct peers

• Police Athletic League (PAL): NYC-based youth development nonprofit that uses athletics — including basketball — to engage underserved youth with a similar mix of sports, education, and mentorship. PAL is the most direct comparable on a citywide, membership-facility-based sports-and-youth model.
• DREAM (formerly Harlem RBI): NYC-based nonprofit using sports (baseball/softball and increasingly multi-sport) plus education to drive college and career readiness for underserved youth. Highly comparable sports-as-hook model, similar age range, and similar college-bound outcomes focus.
• The Boys' Club of New York: Historic NYC youth-serving nonprofit providing athletic, educational, and college-prep programming to underserved youth. Directly comparable operating model, target demographic, and integrated academics-plus-athletics approach.

Emerging players

• RISE Basketball (formerly Rucker Park / EBC): Elite basketball training and youth development program operating in NYC with strong tournament/exposure focus. Comparable basketball-development delivery model, with somewhat narrower emphasis on academic and college-prep wraparound services.
• Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation: Sports-based youth development foundation that funds sport-for-social-change programs. Comparable model of using athletic identity to unlock educational and economic opportunity for youth.
• Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation: Sports-based youth foundation supporting underserved athletes with access to sport and education. Comparable brand-anchored, basketball-adjacent youth development mission with corporate and foundation funding.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey: Large nonprofit providing workforce development and youth services across NYC. Comparable career-exploration, mentorship, and community-based programming for underserved populations, though not basketball-specific.
• USA Basketball Youth Division: National governing body administering youth basketball pathways, including elite competition and development pipelines. Comparable focus on youth basketball skill and exposure development, with overlapping recruitment/development role.
• Catholic Charities of New York: Large multi-service NYC nonprofit with youth development, education, and family services. Comparable wraparound social-support orientation and NYC footprint, though far broader in scope than basketball-specific programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/newheightsnyc
• Facebookfacebook.com/NewHeightsNYC
• Instagraminstagram.com/newheightsnyc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-heights-youth-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Heights Youth